PAHANG URGE TERENGGANU TO CUT WATER RATE TO PUT GEBENG ON TAP FOR INVESTORS

KUANTAN, Dec 12 (Bernama) -- Pahang is asking the Terengganu government to reduce the price of treated water from the state to the Gebeng Industrial Area here and to sell it at a more reasonable rate at the inauguration of a new Kemaman-Gebeng pipeline.

Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said this is because the supply of water to the industrial zone will benefit both parties as it straddles the two states.

"This water rate will be discussed between the Pahang and Terengganu governments as well as Pengurusan Air Pahang Berhad (PAIP) and Syarikat Air Terengganu Sdn Bhd (SATU).

"The Terengganu government previously set the rate of treated water at RM1.40 (per cubic metre) but we are asking for it to be reduced slightly because the Gebeng and Terengganu areas share the same border and it will bring economic spillover to both states," he said.

He said this after the handover of the Water Distribution Pipeline Construction Project From Kemaman, Terengganu to Gebeng, Pahang at the Gebeng Booster Pump House here today, which was also attended by Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.

At the inauguration, the East Coast Economic Regional Development Council (ECERDC) officially handed over the completed 29.8-kilometre (km) pipeline construction project which is a milestone in overcoming water disruptions in the Gebeng Industrial Area as well as providing basic facilities for industrialisation to continue growing in the East Coast Economic Region (ECER).

With the addition of water flow of up to 90 million litres of treated water per day from Kemaman (Terengganu) to Gebeng (Pahang), this pipe ensures efficient supply of water to meet the needs of industries and working communities in Gebeng.

The completion of this infrastructure also ensures a stable water supply to deal with the demand for clean water which is expected to increase to 466 million litres per day by 2025 compared to the current supply of only 290 million litres per day.

Wan Rosdy said he was also grateful to the Federal government, the Terengganu government and ECERDC for making the project a success and that it will directly end the anxiety of investors in the Gebeng Industrial Area and the surrounding residents regarding water shortage.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Samsuri, when speaking, said the project was a strategic initiative for Terengganu to share resources with Pahang for mutual development.

He said it is expected to be a catalyst for more dynamic economic growth between the two states, thus consolidating the East Coast region as a comfortable destination for investments.

"With this clean water pipeline, it will support the growth and security of water supply for industrial areas in Gebeng and the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP).

"This project will not only benefit Terengganu but also Pahang in particular, the Kemaman district is also expected to witness economic growth through increased industrial activity and open job opportunities for local residents," he said.

-- BERNAMA